Can’t remember where I saw this. Isn’t it just adorable? Would brighten up any room. Anyone know what crochet stitch this is? I have some old clocks I got dirt cheap at the thrift store. I could do this.

Crochet Hexagon Afghan

Isn’t this pretty? So colorful. I would make it larger, wider. And not cut off the bottom hexies. I would let the full hexie extend and go with the odd shape. Or use white yarn where the half hexies are cut off.

No link. I just save photos of stuff I like.

And last….

Crochet Tissue Box Covers

OK, OK, don’t laugh. But I love these. With tissue boxes now gone all super ultra high fashion, no one probably puts them in covers any longer. But I still do. I may have the links to these stored in my Bookmarks. Let me see if I can find them.

It started off with me getting a bead order. Then I got a crochet order. Then a macrame order.

I think you get the picture with me wishing for an extra pair of hands and trying to switch crafts by the hour. And poor hubby. He is having the hardest time pretending to be interested in what happens in my craft room.

He said yesterday, “So… you are crocheting NOW?” I don’t know if that was a question or what it was. Probably just an observation comment. Well, that is good, isn’t it? That he notices when I switch up crafts.

The beading order was a bit challenging. Sit a spell, try one idea, then another, keep going until you have something pleasing to the eye. The macrame order will be super easy once I get started. The cord is cut and hanging patiently from a hook. I think I can tie knots blindfolded.

But what about the crochet order, you ask?

One word. Awful!! It’s been about 18 months since I crocheted anything.

I didn’t even remember how to make a SLIP KNOT. Now that is bad, bad, bad!! My mind drew a blank. I had to dig out my crochet pattern books and then went off in search of a You Tube video. Something like Crochet For Dummies. :D Something geared to the spanking brand new crocheter. After several false starts and four hours later, this is what I managed. Thank goodness yarn is easy to rip out.

Now… if I could just stay awake long enough to finish this. :D

It is going to be a sunbonnet potholder. Need to make two exactly like this and stitch them together.

Like this one.

Do you fall asleep when you crochet?

Go here to make your own sunbonnet potholder. I didn’t do all the bells and whistles. Just simple and easy after making the sunbonnet.

After reading through my books on how to felt in a washing machine, I decided to just do it. I tell ya, I had lots of pause moments. Lots of what if’s.

What if…..

water isn’t hot enough

fibers clog up the washing machine

purse falls apart

purse shrinks too much

purse shrinks not enough

no shrinkage happens AT ALL!!

Well, guess what? I worried for nothing.

The water was REALLY hot. And stayed hot enough for me to run the purse through three washing cycles. I didn’t trust that I would be at the machine right at the moment BEFORE it went into a spin (spinning is a no-no), so I stayed in the laundry room watching it like a hawk.

Instructions said to “look” at purse during the process. So… I stopped the wash cycle several times to look. The first time, I didn’t see any shrinkage at all. :( 2nd time. A little. 3rd time. Now we were cooking with gas!! Yes!! Finally. The wool fibers were starting to tighten.

I didn’t need to worry at all about fibers clogging up the hose and drain. Since I put the purse in a zippered pillow case.

Here’s the amount of shrinkage. The outline shows the measurements before felting.

Still drying. Stuffed with plastic bags, per the instructions.

I LOVE IT!!!! It can stand up on its own.

If you plan to felt anything in your washing machine, here’s a few things you need to know. Don’t allow the item to go through the spin cycle. Any folds or creases formed will be permanent. Always put the item inside of something to prevent wool fibers from clogging up your washing machine. Put a few other large items in there to assist with the agitation. I put in two pairs of old jeans and a huge dark towel.

Another suggestion: Try it first with an item you won’t be heartbroken if it doesn’t turn out as expected. Not your dream project that you spent months making.

I used Patons Classic Wool that I got at Michaels for half price. Perfect for a 1st felting project.

Here’s the BEFORE picture. Colors are brown, dark navy-almost black, royal blue, turquoise and beige.

I don’t usually take photos of birds. Don’t think I have EVER taken one. But I couldn’t resist seeing as a couple of my friends take beautiful close-ups of animals, birds and flowers.

Hubby called me to come quickly to look out the bathroom window. A pretty Red Bird was staring back at us. He was enjoying the pink blossoms on a tree in our yard. RED stayed put long enough for me to run for my camera.

Reverse Single Crochet

Learned a new stitch a couple days ago. Reverse Single Crochet (rsc) or crab stitch, as some may call it. I had seen it in patterns before but always skipped right over it for 3 reasons. Didn’t know what it was, didn’t know how to do it and it was always at the end. The last step. Like a border. Figured, what the hay, I was done. But the time had come to just go for it. Learn it. Went to You Tube. Found quite a few on-line demonstrations. Liked this one best.